What floor coverings are there? Types of flooring for the home - choosing the best

Choose best coverage for floor

1. Linoleum

• Does not rot, is not susceptible to the harmful effects of moisture. With proper care, it has a long service life - over 10 years.
• Good noise insulation properties
• Easy to care for
• A huge number of design and color options

• Linoleum is demanding on the base; it must be laid on a perfectly flat floor, then it will last a very long time. Otherwise, it will soon crack and “creases” will be visible.
• Not environmentally friendly: linoleum - completely artificial material, and noticeably loses in this regard to natural coatings.
• Low mechanical strength. Heavy furniture or even sharp heels can damage linoleum. Pets, especially large dogs, can destroy linoleum in a very short time.

2. Carpet and other carpeting

• Resistance to external influences - abrasion and various mechanical damage.
• Large selection of designs and colors
• High noise-absorbing qualities
• Excellent heat retention

Instability to fading and fading, especially in inexpensive types of carpet. Regular dry cleaning is required. If you choose carpeting, take care of a good vacuum cleaner. Dust accumulation. Carpeting is not recommended for people with a predisposition to allergies. Aesthetics (it is easy to deform)

3. Laminate

Laminate is the third most popular inexpensive and common flooring material. It consists of special panels made of fibreboard (fibreboard) and several layers of special thick paper. A pattern is applied to the paper (most often the texture of wood is imitated) and a special durable protective layer of lamination. Hence the name - laminate.

Strength. Laminate copes well with any mechanical load, scratches, and so on. If you have pets, their claws will not be scary for him. Laminate tolerates perfectly high temperature, and is able to withstand short-term contact with fire (for example, with a match accidentally falling on the floor). Laminate can be used in conjunction with underfloor heating systems, both electric and water. Affordable price. Laminate is more expensive than carpet or linoleum, but nevertheless cheaper than many other types of coating, for example, those that are visually similar to it parquet board

Fear of moisture. Despite its strength, laminate is contraindicated for prolonged contact with water and other liquids. From prolonged contact with water, its fiberboard base will swell and the laminate will become unusable. Short service life, despite mechanical strength. It is recommended to replace it every 5 - 7 years. Despite its apparent simplicity, laminate flooring is difficult to install without experience. It is better to hire professionals, and this is an additional amount to the cost of laminate flooring. It is easy to chip and cause defects for the design. This is a huge disadvantage, because laminate, unlike parquet boards or solid wood, cannot be restored.

4. Floorboard

Probably the most classic version of a floor made from natural materials is a floor made from wooden planks. Solid wood flooring is expensive, but it is one of the most reliable and environmentally friendly types of flooring.

Strength and durability. A solid plank floor can last more than 50 years without the need to replace the boards. This floor can be scraped and sanded as many times as you like - the thickness of the boards allows this. Easy installation. Although, as in the case of laminate, you should not do this yourself - it is better to hire specialists. Good heat and sound insulation

High price. Solid natural wood is much more expensive than other types of wood flooring. Sensitivity to moisture: with prolonged contact with moisture, a solid wood board can “sink.” Special protection from scratches is required. Solid boards must be sanded, sanded and varnished annually. It must be regularly treated with pest control agents, despite the initial treatment.

5. Parquet and parquet boards

Parquet made from solid parquet boards is an expensive pleasure. This type of parquet is used to lay floors in royal palaces and very rich houses. Modern parquet cheaper, as it is made from composite materials: its base is thick plywood, and only the top layer of 3–5 mm is valuable wood.

Environmental friendliness. Parquet and parquet boards are, first of all, natural wood. Glue based on natural resins is used as internal binding materials. Long service life. Good parquet can serve you for up to 20 years. Parquet and parquet boards retain heat perfectly. Appearance. Inlaid parquet can become a real work of art (there is a name for this - artistic parquet). Using parquet from different varieties wood, you can create original ornaments and patterns on the floor. It can be restored (this is a definite plus, but it only applies to parquet treated with oil. It is more difficult to restore varnish; you will have to replace the whole board).

High price. And this is not only the cost of the material, but also the cost of installation work. If you want really high-quality parquet, you will have to spend money on a great parquet floorer. Parquet is susceptible to mechanical damage, so it is not recommended to use it in a house with large animals - their claws will render the parquet unusable in a very short time. Parquet is afraid of moisture. And although it is less susceptible to warping than solid wood, it is not recommended to allow prolonged contact with water.

6. Engineering board

Engineered board is a relatively new type of coating. In essence, this is a parquet board, but made using a slightly different technology. Engineered board consists of two or three layers: a thick (up to 1 cm) layer of expensive wood, a layer of cheaper wood or plywood, and another layer expensive wood(for three-layer engineering board).

Strength and durability. Engineered board is much stronger than ordinary parquet, its service life is longer - 20 - 25 years. The thick top layer allows it to be scraped and polished large quantity times than parquet. Retains heat well. Less susceptible to moisture than regular parquet. Easy to install.

Still enough high price: the cost of an engineered board is comparable to the cost of good parquet. To lay it, you need to prepare a good, even base and a backing made of plywood or fiberboard. Despite the increased moisture resistance, it is still not recommended to use engineering board in damp areas.

7. Cork floor

This natural coating with good heat-insulating and noise-absorbing properties, pleasant to the touch and easy to install. Made from compressed bark balsa wood. Available in the form of slabs and rolls.

• Good thermal insulation. You can walk on this floor barefoot even in winter - it maintains room temperature.
• Good sound insulation. In professional recording studios, for example, the floors and walls are necessarily covered with cork panels.
• Resistance to deformation. Heavy furniture does not leave marks on the cork floor - dents are leveled out on their own within a short time.

• Prices for the material and the cost of installation work are comparable to the cost of laying parquet - not the most economical option.
• Cork flooring can swell and deform during prolonged contact with water.
• Not recommended for use indoors with pets: claws will easily damage the cork floor. Also, avoid walking on cork floors in heels.
  

8. Ceramic tiles and natural stone

Surely in any apartment there is a room (and probably more than one) with a ceramic tile floor. Most often this is a bathroom, toilet, kitchen, less often a hallway. Durable, abrasion-resistant and moisture-resistant tiles are an ideal material for wet and walk-through rooms.

• Affordable price. From the extensive range of ceramics, you can always find exactly the option that suits you both in price and quality.
• Strength. At correct installation Ceramic tiles can last forever. An example of this is ancient Greek temples, the floors of which are still decorated with ceramics.
• Easy to care for. Ceramic tiles and artificial stone are easy to clean and are not afraid of moisture.

• Labor-intensive installation. Laying tiles or artificial stone requires long and thorough preparatory work.
• Presence of seams between tiles. No matter how hard the master tries, the seams will always remain. They must be carefully sealed, and this is also a rather labor-intensive process.
• The need to combine ceramic tiles with heated floor systems is an additional expense that increases the final cost of the coating.
  

9. Polymer coatings or self-leveling floors

Self-leveling floors in Lately give way to more environmentally friendly materials- wood, cork or parquet, but still remain in demand. Reasons - self-leveling flooring is very durable, is not afraid of moisture and provides unlimited opportunities for realizing design ideas.

Self-leveling floors are not afraid of moisture, which is why they are most often installed in bathrooms and kitchens. Wide possibilities for design. Self-leveling flooring is perfect for installing heated floors. Durability. A properly made self-leveling floor can last up to 50 years. Resistant to fire and temperature. Easy to maintain.

High price. This includes not only the floor material itself, but also preliminary work on preparing the base, design, and so on. All this brings the self-leveling floor to the upper price category. Demands on rough coating. Depends on how well the draft is done preparatory work, the quality of the self-leveling floor itself will depend. The difficulty of replacement. If you get tired of the self-leveling floor and want to dismantle it, get ready for serious work and high costs.

The results of the hit parade

In our hit parade, we tried to briefly talk about all the most popular types of floor coverings that can be found on the market. Which of these do we recommend you choose?

If you are a supporter of eco-style and love experiments, try cork flooring. If you love classics and reliability, there is nothing better than a real solid wood floor or good parquet. Save money or don’t want to invest a lot of money in rented apartment- take inexpensive linoleum, carpet or laminate.

The choice of floor covering is one of the most pressing issues for those who have started home renovations. What should the floor be like to create coziness in the room and at the same time make the interior stylish and attractive? And so that in 2-3 years you don’t have to change it again or restore the worn surface. The price factor is no less important, because any repair involves high costs, which means you need to use every opportunity to reduce these costs a little.

Let's look at how to choose flooring from the many options on the market.

Floor coverings are available in very wide range, for every taste and budget. Some of them are more in demand, others less so, and there are even exotic options for connoisseurs of unusual interiors. Depending on the materials used, floor coverings are usually divided into two types - artificial and natural. The first group includes linoleum, laminate, carpet and similar products, the second group includes wood, cork, ceramic tiles, and stone. To choose the best covering option for your home, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each material and compare their pros and cons.

Laminate

Laminate is one of the best-selling floorings. It consists of multilayer panels based on dense wood boards, which are superior in strength and wear resistance to natural wood. Thanks to the decorative layer on the front surface, the laminate can imitate plank flooring, parquet, tiles from natural stone or ceramics. The coating is distinguished by a rich palette of colors and shades, and a wide selection of patterns.

All laminate is divided into two types. The first is a household type, not intended for high loads, and is used in residential buildings. Its service life usually does not exceed 6 years, and it is only suitable for dry rooms.

The second type is commercial, with improved characteristics. Such coatings are highly resistant to wear, moisture, temperature changes, and their service life is many times longer - up to 20 years, depending on the class. Commercial laminate flooring is equally widely used in both public and domestic premises.

Tarkett laminate prices

Tarkett laminate

Advantages of coverage:

• relatively low price;
• big choice models;
• good thermal insulation properties;
• light weight;
• ease of care;
• installation does not require special skills.

• for installation, the most even base is required (differences in height should not exceed 3 mm);
• low sound insulation.

Installation features: the panels are connected to each other using a special lock - a special form of tongue and groove along the perimeter of each plank. There are two types of lock - click and lock. The first type is considered simpler and more convenient and allows for small irregularities on the rough foundation. The lock allows you to lay the panels only on a perfectly flat base; moreover, the installation process itself requires more skill and physical effort.

A waterproofing film and a soundproofing underlay made of foamed PVC or cork are laid between the laminate and the subfloor.

Linoleum

Among budget coverings, linoleum is considered the most popular. There are many varieties of it on the market, differing in manufacturing material and performance characteristics, but the most popular is PVC linoleum on a foam and felt basis. The coating is highly decorative: manufacturers offer linoleum in various colors with patterns, ornaments, and imitation of artificial and natural materials.

There are three types of linoleum, depending on the strength characteristics. Household type Designed for installation in low-traffic areas and lasts up to 5 years. Semi-commercial is more resistant to wear, so it can be used in any domestic premises and public buildings. Its service life reaches 20 years.

The commercial type is the most wear-resistant and suitable for production premises with intense floor loads. The service life of such coating reaches 25 years.

Tarkett linoleum prices

Tarkett linoleum

• affordable price;
• ease of installation;
• wide selection of designs and colors;
• ease of care;
• good heat and sound insulating properties.

• the material becomes brittle in the cold, so it is not suitable for unheated rooms;
• in case of mechanical damage, it is not always possible to eliminate defects unnoticed;
• low quality linoleum long time after installation it emits a strong unpleasant odor.

Laying features: linoleum is laid end-to-end in stripes. To avoid shifting of the canvas and the formation of air bubbles, it is recommended to glue the coating to the subfloor.

In small rooms, double-sided tape can be used for these purposes; in spacious rooms, special mastic or glue is used - bustylate for a felt base, acrylate for a synthetic one.

The subfloor under linoleum must be smooth and even, since the coating is thin and all irregularities are clearly visible on the surface. During use, abrasions and tears appear very quickly in these places.

Carpet

Carpet combines the characteristics of linoleum and carpet. It can be laid on finished floors (laminate, tiles, parquet) and on concrete screed. Carpet is available on a single-layer and two-layer basis, most often made of wool, polyamide or propylene. Natural wool covering is the most expensive, but wears out too quickly, unlike synthetic options. The basis is jute fabric, rubber, artificial fibers.

• the coating is warm and pleasant to the touch;
• muffles sounds well;
• easy to install;
• wide range of colors;
• can be laid on any base.

• high price;
• tendency to dirt and dust accumulation;
• not suitable for allergy sufferers;
• cannot be installed in rooms with high humidity.

Laying features: like others roll coverings, the carpet is laid as a continuous sheet over the entire area of ​​the room. The coating strips are laid end to end. To avoid displacement, the carpet is secured with skirting boards around the perimeter of the room.

Natural wooden floors have always been highly valued, which is why solid wood flooring is still in high demand. Manufacturers offer a wide selection of materials from oak, walnut, ash, larch, wenge and other species that have an attractive texture pattern. A standard solid wood board has a thickness of 15-22 mm, a width of 125 to 190 mm and a length of 0.6 to 6 meters. The most popular option is boards 1.5-1.8 m long.

• environmental friendliness;
• attractive appearance;
• low thermal conductivity;
• durability;
• possibility of restoration or replacement of individual elements.

• high price;
• sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity in the room;
• prone to rot and insect damage;
• drying of wood and appearance of cracks in the floor;
• need for protective treatment after installation and periodically during operation.

Laying features: modern solid boards are available with locking system“tenon-groove” or click-joint, so its installation is done like a laminate. The coating itself is installed in two ways - along logs and along wooden flooring, where a layer of plywood serves as the base. The installation process requires at least basic construction skills and ability to use tools.

Video - Laying solid boards

Parquet

Natural parquet looks very solid and gives the interior a noble and at the same time cozy look. Parquet is made from classic and exotic wood species - oak, ash, walnut, cherry, wenge, bamboo, merbau and others.

Standard parquet planks have a thickness of 14-22 mm, a width of 30-90 mm, and a length of 15 cm to half a meter. The smaller the elements, the more difficult it is to lay the coating.

There are several installation methods, the most popular of which are deck, wicker, herringbone, and Dutch.

• environmental friendliness;
• external attractiveness;
• durability;
• low thermal conductivity;
• good sound insulation;
• possibility of restoration and replacement of individual planks.

• high price material;
• complexity of installation;
• the tendency of the coating to dry out and deform;
• susceptibility to rotting;
• the need for competent and regular care.

Installation features: for high-quality installation, a perfectly flat base is required, so it is recommended to level the subfloor with a leveling mixture or make a plywood flooring. Each plank is glued to the base according to the selected layout method. Without special skills, it is quite difficult to cope with this, so it is better to entrust such work to a professional. After the glue has dried, the coating is sanded and processed protective compounds– oil, waterproof impregnation, varnish, natural wax.

Parquet board

In appearance, parquet boards are almost no different from piece parquet, and in terms of operational characteristics it is in many respects superior. Its multilayer structure ensures high resistance to mechanical loads, and the protective layer lasts longer. attractive appearance coverings. The front layer can consist of one or several dies, on the basis of which four types of parquet boards are distinguished - single-strip, two-strip, three-strip and multi-strip.

• aesthetic appearance;
• low thermal conductivity;
• unlike parquet, this material is less demanding on humidity and temperature conditions;
• long service life;
• good sound absorption;
• relative ease of installation;
• the material does not need additional processing after installation;
• low maintenance requirements.

• quite high price;
• poor resistance to scratches and impacts;
• difficulty in restoration in case of damage.

Features of installation: there are two ways to install such a coating - adhesive and floating. The first method is more labor-intensive and is now almost never used. With the floating method, the boards are connected using a tongue-and-groove system, and the joints are glued to make the coating more airtight. Between the subfloor and the parquet board, a layer of waterproofing film and a backing made of heat-insulating material must be laid.

Video - Laying parquet boards

Cork flooring is still just gaining its popularity, although in some respects it is much superior to traditional wooden flooring. They are made by heat treatment and pressing of crushed cork oak bark. Cork flooring is available in the form of slabs and panels of various thicknesses.

Depending on the structure, the coating is divided into two types - locking and adhesive. The first is multilayer panels with a core of fiberboard. The average thickness of such panels is 10 mm, width - up to 30 cm, length 90-100 cm. Most modifications castle type have protective covering from vinyl film, acrylic or varnish. More budget options need to be processed protective equipment independently, after laying the floor. The adhesive type is most often produced in slabs with a thickness of 4-6 mm and dimensions of 60x30 and 30x30 cm.

• light weight;
• environmental friendliness;
• antistatic properties;
• high heat capacity;
• moisture resistance;
• the floor looks very presentable;
• non-flammable material;
• the coating is pleasant to the touch.

• high price;
• need for special care.

Installation features: interlocking covering laid on a substrate and connected like a laminate, using a tongue-and-groove system. The base must be dry and level, with maximum differences in height of up to 3 mm. For adhesive coating the subfloor must be perfectly level. The slabs are laid from the center of the room, and the glue is applied not only to back side tiles, but also on the base.

Ceramic tiles and stone

Artificial and natural stone, tiles, porcelain stoneware are among the most durable and durable flooring materials. Properly selected color and texture can completely change the interior, make it more solid or give it an original look. The range of such coatings includes tiles of various sizes, colors and textures, including those imitating natural materials.

• wide price range;
• resistance to moisture, abrasion and temperature changes;
• attractive appearance;
• ease of care;
• long service life.

• installation requires a certain skill;
• fragility;
• the material is cold to the touch;
• difficulty in restoration and replacement of damaged elements.

Laying features: the tiles are attached to the base using glue, which is applied with a notched trowel. During the work, it is necessary to strictly observe the width of the seams, using special plastic crosses. Laying is carried out in several ways: straight, staggered, checkerboard and others. Facing takes a lot of time and requires patience and accuracy in work.

Elite and non-standard coatings

Besides traditional options Many people are interested in unusual floor coverings that give the room a memorable and impressive look.

Choosing coverage

So, having studied the characteristics various coatings for the floor, let's proceed directly to the choice. Here you need to take into account the cost of the material, appearance, compliance with operating conditions and the complexity of installation if you plan to do the installation yourself.

Step 1. We decide on a budget for laying the floor. First of all, you should evaluate your material capabilities so that during the repair process you do not have to save on other materials or limit yourself in something else. Most practical options – semi-commercial linoleum and laminate 31-32 classes. These are not the cheapest coatings, but they have excellent performance and a long service life. In addition, they can be matched to any room in the house.

Step 2. We select the material according to the installation method. Two criteria are important here - the complexity of installation and the duration of the work process. If you have no construction experience, it is best to choose roll coverings (linoleum, carpet), laminate, parquet boards or cork. They are also suitable if repairs need to be made in as soon as possible. Solid wood floors will require more time and skill, the same goes for parquet and ceramic tiles.

Step 3. Choosing a design. The color and pattern of the floor should be in harmony with general finishing premises. For classic interiors discreet tones with discreet texture are suitable for rooms in modern style you can take a coating with a clearly defined pattern and contrasting shades. A coating that imitates parquet or plank flooring looks great in any interior; a beveled laminate is an excellent option.

Step 4. Having roughly decided on the main criteria, we select the covering option separately for each room. In the bedroom it is most appropriate environmentally pure material– solid wood board, cork or parquet. But it’s better not to lay carpet or linoleum in the bedroom: the first collects a lot of dust, the second can emit an unpleasant odor.

Parquet in the bedroom - photo

Step 5. Choosing a floor for the living room. Most of the coatings described above will work here. To add coziness, you can lay carpet, parquet boards and laminate will make the interior more solid, the most a budget option– linoleum with a wood pattern or beautiful ornaments.

Step 6. Let's go to the children's room. This requires an environmentally friendly material with high wear resistance. Perfect option– cork floors, parquet boards or laminate of class 31-32 are also good.

Step 7 Now let's select a covering for the kitchen and hallway. In these rooms, the floor is subject to increased loads, pollution, and moisture, so the coating must be as wear-resistant, moisture-resistant, and easy to clean as possible. Tiles and porcelain stoneware meet these requirements to the greatest extent; foam-based linoleum of class 33 or 34 is also suitable.

Step 8 Tiles are traditionally used in the toilet and bathroom. She is not afraid of high humidity, temperature changes, and frequent cleaning with the use of chemicals. Besides, a large assortment allows you to choose a finish to suit every taste, even the most extraordinary.

Video - How to choose flooring

The building materials market now offers a variety of floor coverings that amaze with their performance characteristics, durability and beauty. At the same time, each consumer is guided when choosing various criteria– the ratio of price and consumer properties, functionality and structure, color and pattern, etc.

And in order to determine the best option that will meet the requirements of the premises and your personal preferences, you need to understand the main types of flooring and their characteristics.

The main types of these materials include:

• linoleum;
• parquet;
• laminate;
• ceramic tiles;
• carpet

Less common:

• glass floor – effective solution for interior decoration;
• rubber floors, made from polyurethane and rubber, are excellent for gyms;
• Self-leveling floors - modern type flooring, characterized by a long service life, special beauty and seamless smooth surface.

You can also select floors made of natural stone, marble, granite, solid wood, etc. - each of these types has found its application in the arrangement of residential and commercial buildings.
But let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of the floor coverings that are most popular among consumers.

Durability and affordable price– these are the main characteristics due to which linoleum still remains the most popular floor covering.


This material is produced in rolls 1.5–4 m wide, and its thickness varies depending on the coating on the back side.
In this case, linoleum can be:
1. Baseless with a thickness of up to 1.5–1.6 mm - usually used in rooms with high humidity or high traffic and pollution.
2. Foamed (2–4 mm) – durable (up to 10–15 years) due to its complex structure.
3. With an insulated backing (up to 15 mm) – it is capable of excellent heat retention and is intended for rooms with low humidity.
In addition, linoleum can be made from various materials, including polyvinyl chloride, nitrocellulose, alkyd resin, etc. There are also household, semi-commercial and commercial types of linoleum - they are distinguished by their strength and abrasion resistance.
The main advantages of using linoleum as a floor covering include:

• practicality, as well as ease of cleaning and operation;
• high wear resistance and durability (30–50 years);
• waterproof and rot-resistant;
• resistance to mechanical damage;
• ease of installation, which every home craftsman can handle;
• large selection of available colors and textures;
• possibility of installation in almost any room, including the kitchen, hallway, bathroom and living rooms;
• low price, which makes this material accessible to people with different income levels.

The only one significant drawback linoleum is its non-natural origin. Therefore, such flooring is less environmentally friendly when compared with natural flooring. Therefore, it is necessary to be very careful.
In addition, linoleum can be pressed under the weight of furniture, and inexpensive options often crack and deform due to temperature changes. This is what pushes many consumers to choose other types of flooring for their home.

Modern parquet can take the form of: solid or parquet boards, as well as piece elements. These are natural wood floor coverings that are characterized by a long service life (up to 30–50 years) and high wear resistance.


The main advantages of parquet:

• ecological purity and natural origin;
• durability;
• the ability to renew the floor covering using scraping due to the thickness of the working layer of parquet being several millimeters;

In addition, a large selection of colors, shapes and installation methods allows you to create both classic and extraordinary coating options that suit general style premises.
Most significant disadvantages parquet is high cost, unstable to moisture and incompatible with the “warm floor” system.

Laminate

Laminate is an artificial floor covering, in its own way external characteristics reminiscent of parquet. Available in the form of boards, which can be up to 0.8 cm thick, up to 20 cm wide, and up to 120 cm long. Also found modern varieties laminate in the form of squares and rectangles.


Some consider it an improved version of parquet, but this is not so. The laminate has a multilayer structure and consists entirely of wood board, special paper and polymer protective layer. Its texture can imitate both wood species and natural stone, ceramic tiles and other surfaces.
The popularity of laminate is due to its following advantages:

• wear resistance and durability (service life at correct installation 10–15 years);
• ease of installation, allowing you to save on calling a specialist;
• ease of care - laminate flooring can be vacuumed and wet cleaned;
• resistance to moisture, ultraviolet radiation and temperature changes.

But, like any other type of flooring, laminate has its drawbacks. First of all, it is necessary to perfectly level the subfloor, otherwise gaps may form between the planks.
If the class of such flooring is chosen incorrectly, a special underlay is not used and simple rules are not followed, then it can quickly lose its performance characteristics. In addition, improper installation and absence are the main causes of loud noise when walking on laminate flooring.

Ceramic tile

This type of flooring is optimal choice for rooms with high humidity and traffic. Therefore, tiles are often installed in bathrooms, kitchens and hallways. But it can be used in any other room, as well as when installing a “warm floor” system.


The main advantages of ceramic tiles include:

• excellent wear resistance;
• resistance to stains and ease of maintenance;
• environmental cleanliness;
• non-flammability;
• resistance to moisture;
• large selection of textures, colors and sizes;
• affordable price.

In addition, ceramic tiles do not require perfect flat surface for installation and perfectly protects the base of the floor from the effects of various acids and alkalis.
The main disadvantages of such flooring are the hardness, fragility and cold surface of the ceramics. It is often used in a “warm floor” system, but practically does not fit in rooms such as a bedroom or children’s room. The tile can also crack if a heavy object is dropped on it.

This rolled floor covering can be made from natural (wool), synthetic (polyester, nylon, etc.) material, and also have a combined pile.


The carpet can have piles of different heights or be lint-free. One of the varieties of such covering is carpet tiles, which can simply be laid on a special base and then removed from it if necessary.
The advantages of carpet include:

• practicality and wear resistance;
• good sound insulation;
• ease of installation and cleaning;
• variety of colors, patterns and textures;
• the opportunity to choose coverage in accordance with the family budget, since carpet is presented in several price categories.

Although the service life of such flooring is only 5–10 years, at the same time you can always replace a tired carpet with a new pile covering without carrying out repair work.
But carpet also has its disadvantages:
1. The floor under the carpet must be level, so it will need to be leveled first.
2. Carpet needs regular cleaning and cleaning, otherwise it will accumulate dust and debris.
But the variety of shades, patterns and structures, as well as the ease of installation of carpet, attracts more and more new consumers who often choose pile coverings for their home, apartment or office.

What should you consider when choosing flooring?

First of all, the choice depends on the functional purpose of the room or room for which the coating is needed. For example, for a bathroom or kitchen, ceramic tiles that are not afraid of high humidity, pollution and mechanical influences. For the same reasons, it is possible.
For a corridor or hallway, you can use laminate, linoleum or parquet, which is combined with tiles in the entrance area.
For living rooms, the choice of flooring depends entirely on your personal preferences, financial capabilities and interior features. After all modern market floor coverings allows you to choose a material that meets any requirements and tastes.

To give the floor beauty and aesthetics, a variety of materials are used. Modern manufacturers building materials offer a huge selection of floor coverings: expensive and cheap, natural and artificial, tiles, piece and roll, soft and hard, etc.

1. Linoleum and rubber. This is one of the most common types of flooring. Linoleum is most suitable for flooring in the kitchen and in damp areas. It is easy to clean and waterproof. To lay linoleum, you need a flat base, then it will last a very long time.

2. Polyvinyl chloride: these are soft elastic textured floor coverings. Their service life is about thirty years. They consist of several layers and are designed for different loads, are inexpensive and suitable for wet rooms, and are fire-resistant.

3. Cork: this type has high heat-insulating and noise-absorbing qualities. This natural material, made from the bark of a cork tree. It is strong, durable, reliable. In some cases it is necessary to varnish the floor to keep the cork in place. perfect condition. Some cork slabs are already on sale treated with varnish or wax.

4. Laminate. Relatively recently it began to be used on a mass scale. It perfectly imitates natural wooden floors, but in terms of strength and stability it can be even better. At the same time, the price of laminate is quite affordable and installation is very simple. It is better not to use this material in damp areas. To reduce noise, a layer of soft padding is used under the laminate.

5. Ceramic tiles. This material comes in a huge variety of types, shapes, sizes and colors. Unglazed tiles often come in natural grayish-reddish shades. It is more practical, looks natural and strict. Glazed is more elegant, used for original and bright interiors. Has an unlimited number of colors.

There are also very durable ceramic tiles, which are absolutely insensitive to any chemical influences. More porous, but also durable, semi-gress tiles.

6. Natural and artificial stone. These are the most durable floor coverings. They are heavy and cold enough for residential use. They create patriarchal tradition in the house, special charm. They are perfect for antique-style fireplace rooms, in mansions that imitate ancient castles. Most expensive coverage made of stone - marble. Wherein color palette this material is quite wide.

7. Carpeting. They can also be natural or artificial. The latter are more common today. They are resistant to moisture, do not fade from the sun, are easy to care for and are inaccessible to moths and rodents. There are a lot of options for carpet flooring, and their qualities can be very diverse.

Today, acrylic carpets, wool, nylon, polypropylene, silk, plant fiber carpets and many other types are produced. There are also carpet tiles that can be easily laid on and removed from the base. There are also a lot of color options.

8. Solid board and parquet. These are the most classic and traditional floor coverings. Their cost is relatively high. For such floors, a variety of types of wood are used, on which the strength and decorativeness of the floor largely depends. Wooden floors in any home create incredible coziness, warmth, and comfort.

9. Polymer: these are the so-called self-leveling floors, which are often used for finishing rooms with heavy mechanical and chemical loads. Resin floors can be epoxy or polyurethane. Below we will dwell in more detail on the properties and advantages of some flooring materials.

Cork flooring

Modern and popular material for the floor – . It can be in the form of rolls or slabs. It is especially beneficial to use in rooms where warm floors, silence, comfort and environmental friendliness are required. Main qualities:

• naturalness, environmental friendliness;
• floor insulation;
• noise absorption;
• high strength, durability;
• cork floors do not rot or mold;
• they are not spoiled by rodents or moths;
• when heated, they do not emit harmful compounds;
• do not support combustion;
• do not attract dust;
• hypoallergenic;
• do not accumulate static electricity;
• chemically inert;
• have high decorative qualities;
• moisture resistant;
• very light and dense;
• elastic and resilient;
• easy to install and operate;
• durable.

Rubber flooring

Very often today, polymer or rubber floor coverings are used for indoor and outdoor areas. Rubber tiles quite capable of competing with asphalt or reinforced concrete tiles. Here are its main qualities:

1. high strength;
2. low cost;
3. harmlessness to others;
4. environmental friendliness;
5. elasticity;
6. elasticity;
7. resistance to intense mechanical and chemical influences;
8. the rubber coating does not crumble or break under the influence of impacts or temperature changes;
9. installation is easy and quick, there is no need to use heavy special equipment;
10. such a coating eliminates injury, providing reliable adhesion to the surface;
11. easy to maintain: just wash with plain water and any soap;
12. high aesthetic qualities, it is possible to use a variety of colors and images;
13. low thermal conductivity, etc.

Vinyl flooring

It is often produced in the form of tile materials with unique performance properties. The range of such products today is large enough to find suitable option for any room. Here are the main advantages vinyl tiles, thanks to which it became popular in a very short time:

• it's very fashionable;
• vinyl tiles are very beautiful;
• it is convenient to install and operate;
• very elastic, durable and tough;
• does not deteriorate from exposure to ultraviolet radiation;
• moisture resistant;
• environmentally friendly;
• has a wide variety of colors and textures;
• has low weight;
• durable, abrasion resistant;
• affordable and economical;

Polymer

There are several varieties: epoxy, polyurethane, methyl methacrylate. They are used for rooms with high loads. Polymer coatings can be thin-layer, thick-layer, self-leveling, etc. They can also have a variety of characteristics:

• high wear resistance;
• chemical resistance;
• high decorative effect due to the use of colored chips and design options in 3D format;
• solidity, lack of joints;
• durability;
• dustlessness;
• harmlessness and safety due to the creation of a rough surface;
• hygiene;
• fire safety: most of them are non-flammable or self-extinguishing.

The choice of floor finishing coatings largely depends on the type of room, its purpose, load intensity, temperature and humidity conditions, etc. Any type can significantly decorate and ennoble a room with proper installation and care.